The Concept of Ulskandar

An overview of the basic concepts of the world of Ulskandar, and some base assumptions and facts that I take into consideration when creating the world as a whole.
Base Concepts:

• Ulskandar is a world where there are many different varieties of sapient species that live on the surface of the globe, and beneath it in the Underdark. The world’s sapient species do not all live exclusively in communities made up of their own kinds, and many of Ulskandar’s villages, towns and cities are multi-racial and ethnic places. However, it is not unheard of for communities made up exclusively, or almost exclusively of one sapient species to exist, especially in more isolated areas of the world, or in the Underdark.

• In addition, there are a whole raft of semi-sapient and non-sapient species that inhabit the wilds and sometimes the settlements of Ulskandar. Many of these creatures are monstrous and are avoided by all but the bravest or foolhardiest of people.

• Ulskandar is made up of three continents, Turoza, Tafran and Amfris, whose peoples are essentially isolated from one another. This is partly to do with the fact that the people of Turoza, the most densely populated of the continents, have not been able to develop the technology for Ocean-going Vessels.

• The most eminent scholars in Turoza are in agreement that the world of Ulskandar is in the third of three eras, the Settlement Era. The second or Nomadic Era is agreed to have finished in Turoza over 550 years in the past, whilst the first, or Primordial Era is agreed to have ended several thousand years in the past.

• The beginning of the Settlement Era coincides with when the peoples of Turoza began to settle down in established geopolitical units. The beginning of this current era has been rather hotly contested by scholars, who point to the existence of thriving geopolitical units in Turoza and beyond long before the year 0S.E., but this has yet to be fully agreed on.

Global Technology Level:

• The base technology level for Ulskandar can be characterised as being like that of 12th Century Medieval Europe. That is not to say that other elements of technology are excluded, but it acts as a base line.

• The advent of Magic in Ulskandar (see below) certainly muddies the water with regards to what is possible, but equally some areas of the world, and some classes of society have access to drastically different levels of technology than others.

• In addition, Gnomes are often regarded as being some of the most technologically minded of Ulskandar’s sapient species, even managing to come up with complex workable designs such as the Clockwork Carriage.

Magic:

• For many of the people in Ulskandar, magic is a known phenomenon, but the majority of people have likely never directly experienced magic or seen it in action. Magic can be used by any practitioner for good or ill, at the end of the day the ethics of its use come down to the conscience of the individual magic user.

• Only a very small percentage of the global population are magic users and they tend to be concentrated amongst Dragonborn, Elves and Tieflings. This does not mean that members of other sapient species cannot be magic users, or magic sensitive it is just more uncommon. For more information on the use of magic in Ulskandar can be found here: Use & Application of Magic.